When people think of surgeons, they often think of the years it took for them to get there. From all those late night study sessions to spending long shifts in their residency programs, it takes a lot of time, energy and money to finally make it into the operating room. And it’s all for a good reason, because patients’ lives are on the line. It takes someone with extreme focus and dedication to be able to do surgery and ensure that people are taken care of to the highest level possible. But did you know that sometimes it takes more skills than what they teach you in school to be a successful surgeon? No matter what the textbooks and professors say, they cannot force people to be focused and think critically, especially in the most intense medical situations.
Ironically, video games are contributing to the success of surgeons all across the country and world. Studies are now showing that surgeons who play video games regularly make 37% fewer errors on the operating table, while completing tasks 27% faster than other surgeons who do not play video games. This might seem unconventional, but it proves that there are other activities out there that can sharpen peoples’ minds and help them be more productive and successful in the workplace. When it comes to the healthcare industry and being a surgeon it’s important to be as precise and as possible, and video games are a teaching tool to help both surgeons and patients reach their full potential.
“The JAMA Surgery study’s findings highlight how unconventional methods, like video gaming, can sharpen critical abilities that directly affect surgical accuracy and the overall wellbeing and safety of patients. It sounds a bit ridiculous to correlate video games with the success of surgeons, however, the improvement of skills like hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness associated with this activity are hard to deny,” says Sarah M. Worthy, CEO of DoorSpace.
The fact that video games measure the success and capability of surgeons, can create a little hesitation for people, and that’s understandable. However, it starts the conversation that there is more to learning and growing than just what a textbook can teach people. Understanding complex medical issues is one thing, but sometimes it takes more skills and experiences to be the best.
Patient health is first and foremost so it’s important to consider all avenues of training and expertise when becoming a surgeon. Playing video games seems more like a fun hobby, rather than helping you become a medical expert, but studies show it can do both. This doesn’t mean you have to play video games 24/7, but integrating it into your weekly routine can help you grow as a surgeon.
“Now, I’m not saying we should start letting our kids play video games all day in an effort to make them doctors. The study indicates that these results were determined based on doctors who played for a few hours during the week. With increased rates of burnout and fatigue among medical health professionals – especially doctors – a little fun can’t hurt. Precision and agility are paramount in healthcare and sometimes traditional training methods may not be enough. Innovative approaches to skill-building training don’t have to be tiresome. Who said work can’t be fun?” Worthy says.
As the world adapts to technology, perhaps it’s time to integrate more of it into your life. Finding a balance when using technology, such as video games, is key to being happy and healthy both inside and out of work. Being a surgeon is a stressful job to take on, but having a hobby to relax, while gaining necessary skills is a win-win situation.
Medical school and in-person training lay the groundwork for being a successful surgeon, but playing video games can help people become well-rounded. When patient health is on the line, why not try out new methods to amp up your surgical skills?